6 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying SFP Transceiver

Switch transceiver optics, especially for 10G SFP+ and 40G QSFP+ transceiver, the price are not cheap; The SFP transceiver optics now have been widely used in data centers, enterprise or campus networks and cost much money. But many people continue to make the same mistakes they made many years ago when shopping for replacement transceiver optics. The top six mistakes people make when buying switch transceiver optics are:

Mistake #1: Overpaying for switch transceiver optics

It’s no secret that transceiver optics are expensive. Buying transceiver optics (ex SFP optics) along with a switch instead of ordering SFP separately can usually save you a little bit of money for the first purchase, but it’s not the only way you can save!  Low-priced compatible transceiver optics from Optcore can save you a ton of money, giving you the same performance and high quality for a fraction of the name-brand price. Let’s compare the 1000BASE-SX SFP transceiver optics compatible with Cisco GLC-SX-MMD. The original Cisco brand GLC-SX-MMD listed price on Amazon is $126.5. Optcore sells a compatible replacement GLC-SX-MMD for 90% less at just $5.9. Why pay more for a name-brand SFP transceiver when you get the same network performance at a better price?

Mistake #2: Your transceiver optics don’t match with your network switch

The different switch supports different transceiver optics. Gigabit SFP port supports only 1000BASE SFP transceivers, SFP+ ports only accept 10G SFP+ transceiver. If you buy 1000BASE SFP used with an SFP+ port, it will fail to work. Ensure to choose the correct transceiver that suits your fiber cable, switch port supported data rate, and optical wavelength match with another side transceiver. If your transceiver doesn’t match your switch port, you could be spending more than you need to on replacements!

Mistake #3: Your transceiver optics aren’t compatible with your network switch

Some industry manufacturers, such as Cisco and Brocade, encrypt their switch devices, so they have high compatibility requirements for transceivers. This means the Cisco transceiver can not be used with Brocade devices and vice versa. These original transceiver modules typically cost much more than third-party replacement modules.

Third-party compatible transceivers provide the same performance as genuine brand optics but at an affordable price that allows you to save much more on your budget. Remember to choose a reliable supplier like Optcore with a compatible transceiver tested on the brand switch and high quality; don’t waste time on incompatible transceiver optics. 

Mistake #4: Use third-party compatible transceiver optics will void my warranty

The short answer is no. Using third-party compatible transceiver optics will not void any warranty. Manufacturers cannot specify that only their branded parts may be used for their OEM systems to maintain a warranty. The use of third-party optics does not void the OEM warranty that is protected by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

Mistake #5: Buying low-quality remanufactured transceiver optics

Remanufactured or refurbished switch transceiver optics are old OEM transceiver optics re-engineered or repaired to work with some switch models. Buying such transceiver optics can surely help you save money on network cabling, but you should be careful not to buy from the wrong source. You should strictly avoid anonymous sellers and companies that can not offer product guarantees. More importantly, the refurbished transceiver optics usually provide a short lifetime compared with the new transceiver.

Mistake #6: not buying low-cost, compatible switch transceiver optics

Are you confused about purchasing expensive OEM (original equipment manufacturer) transceiver optics or low-cost compatible transceiver optics (ex SFP, SFP+, QSFP+)?

You’re not the only IT manager in a dilemma regarding OEM and non-OEM switching transceiver optics. Many IT managers have been hit with manufacturers’ warnings of the strict use of OEM transceiver optics.

OEM transceiver optics are sold by switch manufacturers and are of the highest quality because they are designed for various switch models. However, OEM transceiver optics are more expensive because switch vendors tend to offset their marketing research and development costs by selling switching transceiver optics at a higher price. They even tend to sell switches at a lower initial price and make a profit by later selling expensive OEM replacement transceiver optics.

Third-party companies manufacture compatible or universal transceiver optics. These transceiver optics are also designed to work with various switching models. Because these companies don’t have to offset marketing costs, they can sell compatible switch register optics at a lower price. We have our own manufacturing facilities and offer guarantees on all optics we sell.

Conclusion

The switch transceiver optics buying mistakes we discussed above can cost you time and money. Now that you know how to avoid these mistakes, you can buy the right transceiver optics for your switch devices.